US teacher opposition to so-called critical race theory bans

Abstract

Several states in the United States, including Tennessee, have enacted laws prohibiting so-called critical race theory in public schools. Positioning teachers as policy actors, this study examines how future and current teachers understand and plan to navigate Tennessee's legislation. In focus groups, participants disapproved of the legislation. They expressed active opposition, reluctant compliance, and intentional disregard. We theorize these responses as reflecting teachers' calculations regarding power in their contexts. Findings illustrate that teachers are not merely passive subjects enacting mandates, but instead intentionally and strategically interpret policy. The study has implications for global contexts in which teachers navigate censorship policies.